Perspectives on “Pornography”: Exploring sexually explicit Internet movies’ influences on Canadian young adults’ holistic sexual health

Despite the vast number of Canadian young adults who consume sexually explicit Internet movies (SEIM), the potential influences SEIM consumption has on overall sexual health remains understudied. This study aimed to develop insight into what Canadian young adults perceive to be the influences of consuming SEIM on six components of sexual health: Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Self-Perception, Sexual Activity, Sexual Partner Relations, Perceptions of Sexuality, and Overall Wellbeing. Employing an exploratory qualitative approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 urban, heterosexual young adults (ages 19–29), who self-identified as having consumed SEIM for a period of at least one year. All interviews were audio-taped with permission, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using principles of constructivist grounded theory. Young adults described a wide range of influences that encompassed topics beyond physical reactions, to include experiences with overall sexuality and sexual self. These influences were perceived to result in both health benefits and health challenges. The disparities between this study’s findings and other empirical SEIM studies suggest that conceptualizing SEIM consumption using person-centred, holistic perspectives may help researchers more effectively capture the multitude of diverse ways SEIM can influence Canadians’ sexual health.